Chapter 31- Thoughts

Avery brought her knees up and rested her hands on them as she watched the setting sun. Shadows crept over the valley, never touching the anomaly. As if they feared it, Avery thought. It was an unusual thing that reached across time and space, some of the creatures they came across were not even in the same region as England. The Gorgonopsid is more native to Africa which was part of the southern hemisphere during the Permian era.

A few moments after the rest of the group went home some soldiers came to guard the anomaly to make sure nothing came out, or come in. A pair of scientists covered head to toe in white gear also arrived to see if the anomaly was any different during the night. There were still so many questions surrounding this mystery.

Avery joined the pair after a few pleasantries. They did scans on the electromagnetic field around the anomaly that attracted metal towards it. Avery almost lost a pen when she came too close. Avery disengaged from the pair after a while. This was more Connor's area of expertise. Avery was more studying biology and biochemistry than the more technological and physics based side of science.

She decided she might head back home instead to try and get more sleep. She almost turned to walk back to the carpark when she realized that she had come with Abby, leaving her carless. Avery huffed before sitting down again facing the anomaly. Perhaps she could go back to the home office with Ryan after he finished his shift, then she could catch a taxi back to her flat.

After finishing a round around the perimeter set up by his soldiers Ryan headed back to the anomaly to check up on the soldiers guarding it. When he returned he noticed Avery sitting with some of the soldiers talking.

"… we were all huddled on top of the safari jeep. Just the three of us while the rest of the students were sleeping in their tents while this massive Rhino kept nudging it. Stephen had his gun out trained on the Rhino, but we didn't want to hurt him. He wasn't attacking us, so at first, we were confused. Until this other male approached, and the Rhino chased it off. It turns out it thought the jeep was a female and was trying to court us, before it realized it wasn't a female or it thought it was not interested and it moved away."

The soldiers laughed at her story, and Ryan watched on as they exchanged stories of their own. After a while the soldiers walked away to do a perimeter search. "Hey, my shift is up, do you still want a lift back to the home office?"

"Sure." But when she made no move to get up Ryan sat next to her.

"What's troubling you?"

"Its just my relationship with my boyfriend Michael, keeping the secret of all this is creating a rift. I'm just not sure how I can fix things. Before now there were no major secrets between us, but now I'm keeping something huge and Michael is not talking it well. Neither am I." Avery looked at him side long, silently asking for advice from a special ops soldier who was probably used to keeping secrets.

Ryan realised this and shifted to face her. "It's not easy, I'll tell you that much, and I've had my own experience with relationships ending because of the secrets I needed to keep. Sometimes it gets easier, but sometimes it gets worse. They can start accusing you of worse things, like sleeping with other people. I wish I could tell you everything will be fine, just tell him that the secret has to do with your job, and how he takes it is entirely up to him, it's not on you."

"It's getting late. We should be going." Avery said getting up and dusting her pants. "You know I need to bring my own car next time, this is becoming a habit." She nodded thanks as she looked down at him.

Ryan nodded back getting up beside her. "At least it's not too far from your place."

Avery locked the door behind her before collapsing on her bed. The day had been long and tiring. I hope there are no anomalies tomorrow. Just one day. Sure, they are exiting, but they are also stressful. They are tearing a rift between me and Michael.

Avery picked up her phone and checked for any messages from Michael. It was blank, no reply to the numerous messages she sent him earlier in the day. With a sigh she got ready for bed. Changing into one of Michael's old soccer shirts and a pair of shorts she settled down in front of the tv when someone knocked on the door.

When she opened the door, Michael stood there. Drops of water speckled his shirt and hair, telling her a slight drizzle had started outside.

"Hey Avery." He said looking around. "Can we talk?"

"Sure." Avery stepped back from the door and gestured inside. "Come in."

Michael nodded and sat on the couch facing the tv. After closing the door Avery joined him. Silence sat between them, unlike at the anomaly site after everyone left this silence was palpable and heavy. Silence that spoke of how far things have become. She used to be able to talk to him for hours about anything, but now she was unsure of what to say.

Avery was the first to break the silence. "Did you get any of my texts?"

"Yes."

"Then why didn't you reply." Avery said as her annoyance started to rise. "I tried reaching you several times."

"I needed time alone to think. I understand I overreacted, but you wont even give me a clue about what is going on." Michael said taking her hands.

Avery rubbed her thumb over the back of his hand, debating whether to continue telling him she was just doing desk work or tell him the truth. After a while she decided to conceive at least some truth and heed Ryan's advice. "It's got to do with the work I'm doing, I'm not just working at the home office doing desk work, I am doing something else as well, but I'm not allowed to talk about it."

"Finally, some truth. I understand if you can't tell me because of your work what you are doing, but now I know its not something else you are keeping from me." He smiled, and Avery could tell he wanted to know what Avery did at work, but he wasn't mad. "Especially when I met Becker." Michael conceded.

"What. No, we did meet at work and he stopped two guys from hitting on me, but that was the second time I met him at the shooting range." After a quick thought Avery smiled sweetly. "Why, where you jealous Michael?"

"No." Avery stared at him expectedly. "Fine yes."

"Well there is no need to worry. He is just an acquaintance. Plus, I have you, so why would I need someone else?" Avery tilted her head and smiled. Michael huffed out a laugh then kissed her.